Shea’s attorney, Stephen Ellis, said the Board of Selectmen’s March 11 vote to rescind his appointment wasn’t legal. Ellis said Vermont law requires cause to fire a town manager, which he says can’t be accomplished by rescinding an appointment.

But a town attorney told the Caledonian Record that Shea was never hired in the first place and that there’s no contract to support his contention.

In a separate lawsuit, former town manager Ralph Nelson is also suing St. Johnsbury for wrongful termination. He was let go a year ago.